Method and device for the merging of different paper webs

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and device for the merging and finishing of at least two paper webs ( 1, 2, 3, 4 ), controlled in the longitudinal register, which are distinctly different in quality and in finishing steps to be undertaken. The device comprises at least two web-specific processing regions ( 13 A,  13 B,  13 C), a merging unit ( 21 ), a common processing region ( 22 ), controlled in the longitudinal register and means for the control of the longitudinal register ( 14 ), essentially comprising one longitudinal register sensor per paper web. Markings are placed on the paper web with periodic separations. Longitudinal register sensors ( 14 ) recognise said markings and transmit signals to the control unit, which determines possible variations and controls the means for regulation of the longitudinal register in such a way that variations in the longitudinal register are compensated. The device further comprises means for setting the web tension of the individual paper webs, with at least two tension-adjusting devices ( 19 A-D,  20 A-D) in the course of the paper webs and, on at least one paper web, at least three adjusters, with which the web tension may be adjusted independently of each other in at least two partial regions, defined by the above. The partial regions preferably essentially correspond to the web-specific and the common processing regions. The web tension in the web-specific processing regions can thus be optimally adjusted to match the paper quality and the finishing process requirements.

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device suitable forcarrying out the method and for finishing and merging a plurality ofdifferent paper webs controlled in the longitudinal register, accordingto the precharacterizing clause of claims 1 and 11, respectively.

[0002] In the context of the invention, the “paper web” is understood asmeaning any material which is present in web form. A web may consist,for example, of paper or of a film material, for example a plasticmaterial. The paper web may already have been preprocessed. Examples ofpreprocessing are the printing and coating of individual paper webs orthe association of a plurality of individual paper webs to form a new,multilayer paper web.

[0003] In the context of the invention, the “finishing” of a paper webis understood as meaning any form of processing of a paper web,printing, coating or embossing of patterns, folding, perforating orpunching, numbering and/or personalization of longitudinal sections ofthe paper web, creation of address windows and optionally the coveringthereof, for example with transparent films, and application of labels,paper or plastic cards or sample packs being mentioned as examples offinishing processes.

[0004] In the context of the invention, the “merging” of individualpaper webs is understood as meaning the arrangement, one under theother, of the individual paper webs which have been finished separatelyand independently of one another. The term “arrangement one under theother” is usually understood here as meaning that the paper webs arebrought into direct contact with one another. In particularapplications, however, the paper webs may also remain a certain distanceapart, but without moving relative to one another. After the merging,the paper webs may pass through a further, common processing region.

[0005] During the finishing of an individual, endless paper web, the webspeed must in general be correctly maintained for a synchronization ofsequences and for error-free further processing.

[0006] The correct maintenance of the web speed can be achieved byproviding, on both sides at the edges of the paper web, registerperforations which are engaged by spike belts arranged along theprocessing or finishing zone and which thus ensure a controllable,synchronous speed. However, the longitudinal registration using registerperforations has the disadvantage that the edge provided with theregister perforations generally has to be removed in a further,additional processing step. Moreover, the removal of the perforated edgerepresents the loss of material which is of high quality per se.Finally, the method involving the register perforations on both sidescannot be used if the paper web is to be folded in one of the finishingsteps.

[0007] In an alternative method of longitudinal registration, the paperweb is provided with markings which are applied to the paper web atregular intervals in the longitudinal direction, advantageously with theexact register of the longitudinal register. These markings arerecognized by a web sensor, and further processing of the paper web withexact register is permitted by means of the signals generated by the websensor, via a corresponding web feed control. The web feed control acts,for example, on the drive of draw rollers which are arranged behind theprocessing region, viewed in the running direction of the paper web, orhas a braking effect on unwinding rollers which are arranged between therolled or folded stock of the paper web to be finished and theprocessing region. The disadvantages of register perforations areavoided by the method of longitudinal registration.

[0008] If not just one but a plurality of paper webs are to be finishedand then further processed together, a completely different state ofaffairs is encountered. Such a requirement arises, for example, innewspaper printing.

[0009] In an approach known per se for achieving these objects (WO95/28345), a method and a device for finishing paper webs independentlyof one another, merging them accurately, in the longitudinal registerand optionally processing them together are proposed. According to thismethod, the various paper webs are passed from a storage drum via a pairof take-off rollers which serves as a first tension-adjusting unit inweb-specific finishing regions, finished there individually andindependently of one another, optionally merged via deflection rollersand fed to a common processing region. A draw unit, by means of which atension substantially identical for all paper webs is established in allpaper webs between the take-off rollers and the draw unit in thelongitudinal direction of the paper web is arranged in the commonprocessing region, preferably after the web-specific finishing regionsand immediately before the common processing region. Preferably, thepropellers are formed so that in each case a substantially constanttension prevails over the whole width of the respective paper webs. Thedraw unit is preferably also in the form of a pair of rubber drawrollers. The common feed velocity of the paper webs and hence theprocessing speeds are determined by means of the rotational velocity ofthe draw rollers. Markings which are recognized by web sensors areapplied to the paper webs at equal intervals. The take-off rollers arecontrolled by means of a control unit controlled by the signals of theweb sensor. The take-off rollers are substantially braked and thus theweb tension prevailing on the web-specific finishing region between thetake-off rollers and the tension unit is regulated.

[0010] The difficulties encountered during finishing increase further ifpaper webs of different quality are to be finished or if individualpaper webs are to undergo very different finishing steps. Possible paperwebs having substantially differing quality are tissue paper andso-called chemical papers. These are, for example, copying papers whichare provided with microscopic capsules which release the ink containedin them when pressure is exerted. Examples of different finishing stepsare the punching out of address windows, sticking in of publicity packsor the folding together of essentially broader paper webs in thelongitudinal direction to give narrower, unfoldable paper webs. Suchdifferent finishing steps may be required, for example, when tyingtogether publicity material for stitching.

[0011] When the proposed solution is used in practice, however,disadvantages are encountered. Particularly when the web tensions of theindividual paper webs which prevail in the web-specific finishing regionhave to be set very differently for an optimal course of the finishingprocesses, it is observed that individual paper webs “coincide” and/orthat they wrinkle in an undesired manner in the common processingregion. Consequently, the implementation of the finishing processes isdisturbed and/or more waste is produced.

[0012] It is the object of the present invention to eliminate thedescribed disadvantages of this known solution for finishing and merginga plurality of paper webs. In particular, the present invention shouldmake it possible to finish paper webs of very different qualityindependently of one another, but with exact register, andsimultaneously to carry out very different types of finishing processescorrectly and reliably, it also being intended to keep the quantity ofwaste as low as possible. The object is achieved by using a method inwhich all features of claim 1 are realized or with the use of a devicehaving all features of claims 11 and 12. Advantageous or alternativeembodiments are described in the dependent Claims.

[0013] The substantial feature of the achievement according to theinvention is that, in the device for merging and finishing with controlin the longitudinal register, at least two tension-adjusting units arepresent in addition to the tension unit mounted after the commonfinishing region, in at least one web-specific processing region, ofwhich tension-adjusting units a first tension-adjusting unit is arrangedbefore the web-specific processing zone and a second tension-adjustingunit between the first tension-adjusting unit and the merging unit. Theweb tension prevailing in the paper web between the first and the secondtension-adjusting unit—usually along the web-specific processingregion—can thus be adjusted substantially independently of the webtension prevailing between the second tension-adjusting unit and thedraw unit, in particular in the common finishing region. By decouplingthe web tensions in the two partial regions, it is possible on the onehand to adapt the web tension in the web-specific processing regionoptimally to the requirements of the web-specific finishing process. Onthe other hand, the web tension in the common processing region can beadjusted to a value substantially agreeing with the web tensions of theother webs, independently of the web-specific finishing step. Thus, forexample, undesired wrinkling is avoided.

[0014] Depending on the requirements of the finishing process, furthertension-adjusting units may also be included in addition to the firstand the second tension-adjusting units and to the draw unit. Thus, morethan two partial regions having defined web tensions can be set up. Thisis advantageous in particular when a paper web has to pass through aplurality of different finishing processes in succession.

[0015] In the partial regions, the web tension is substantiallyconstant, viewed in the running direction of the paper web. Thetension-adjusting units are preferably controlled in such a way that theweb tension in the running direction of the paper web decreases in acascade-like manner from partial region to partial region.

[0016] In the common processing region, the web tensions are preferablyadjusted to a common, substantially equal value. Behind the draw unit,in particular in the collecting device, the merged paper webs aresubstantially tension-free.

[0017] In order to achieve the cascade-like, stepwise decrease in theweb tension in the running direction, the draw unit must draw the moststrongly. The upstream tension-adjusting units are controlled in such away that they each draw less strongly than the downstreamtension-adjusting unit. Alternatively, they may also be controlled insuch a way that they have a braking effect, with in each case a greaterbraking effect compared with the downstream tension-adjusting unit.

[0018] Frequently, the web quality or the web-specific finishing stepdiffers from the substantially equal web qualities or the finishing stepof the remaining paper webs only in the case of one paper web. Oneexample each may be mentioned for the two above-mentioned cases: i) theintroduction of a particularly thin web of copying paper sensitive totearing into a stack of paper webs of normal web quality; ii) themerging of paper webs, which in principle are only to be printed on, togive a personalized advertising brochure in which the title page is tohave an opening for the address window, the opening being punched out ofthe paper web. In these cases, it is generally sufficient separately toadjust the web tension only on the paper web differing with respect toweb quality or a web-specific finishing step.

[0019] Depending on the type of finishing process, the paper webs arefirmly joined together in common processing steps, so that they can nolonger be moved relative to one another in the longitudinal direction.For example, they are held together there with staples or in some casesare glued together.

[0020] In yet other finishing processes, it may only be necessary forthe paper webs merely to rest against one another, optionally withfriction, in the common processing region. It is then tolerable withinspecific limits to adjust the web tension in each paper web in thecommon processing region slightly differently but substantially to avalue common to all webs. If, however, the paper webs are to be firmlyjoined together in the common processing region, it is then necessary toadjust the web tensions very accurately to the same value.

[0021] The means for establishing and adjusting the web tension, inparticular the first, the second and possible further tension-adjustingunits, and the draw unit are advantageously designed in such a way thatthe web tension remains substantially constant over the total width ofthe paper web. This is achieved approximately by virtue of the fact thattension-adjusting units and the draw unit are in the form of draw rollerpairs, in particular in the form of rubber rollers. In the case ofrubber rollers, the pressure is distributed in general more uniformlyover the paper web running through the pair of rollers than in the caseof known (hard) draw rollers, so that the web tension is adjusteduniformly over the width.

[0022] It is precisely for finished paper webs that the requirement foras good a uniformity as possible of the web tension over the width ofthe paper web is of substantial importance, in particular so thattearing of the paper web or the occurrence of undesired creases andhence the loss of the finished material is as far as possible avoided.Advantageously, draw rollers, in particular rubber rollers, cantherefore also be provided on their circumference with a specificprofile adapted to the shape of the surface of the paper web runningthrough. For example, finishing products applied to the paper webs whenthe paper webs pass through the corresponding pairs of draw rollers canbe taken up via suitable passages in the profile so that, in this casetoo, the pressure is distributed approximately uniformly over the widthof the paper web.

[0023] In general, the draw rollers used are cylindrical rollers havinga standard circumference of 24″ (60.96 cm). Both cylindrical rollers ofthe draw roller pair are usually synchronously driven so that thecircumferential velocity is the same. The axes of the two cylindricalrollers are exactly aligned with one another and are perpendicular tothe paper transport direction. Consequently, the contact pressureexerted by the draw roller pair on the paper webs in between is the sameand the paper webs are transported linearly without the slightest angleof wrap. It is evident that, depending on the material or the resilienceof the covering of the draw rollers or on the smoothness of the surfaceof the paper web, the circumferential velocity of the draw roller pairshas to be adapted to the respective thickness of the paper webstransported in between. In particular applications, it may also beadvantageous to drive the two draw rollers separately and independentlyof one another.

[0024] The adjustment of the longitudinal register of a paper web can beeffected in principle in two ways. Firstly by virtue of the fact thatthe travel of the paper web within the web-specific processing region isdirectly adjustable by means of a longitudinal register adjusting unit.Secondly, by virtue of the fact that the stretching of the paper webs,which is associated with the elasticity of the paper webs and dependenton the web tension, is utilized for moving the markings on the differentpaper webs relative to one another so that they coincide accurately inthe longitudinal register in the common processing region.

[0025] The direct adjustment of the travel has the advantage that thelongitudinal register of a paper web can be adjusted directly andindependently of the web tension. It is then necessary to ensure that,simultaneously with the change of travel of the paper web, its feed isadapted synchronously with the change in the travel in the partialregion located before the longitudinal register adjusting unit.

[0026] In the second possibility for adjusting the longitudinal registerwith utilization of the elastic stretching of the webs, problems may beencountered if in fact paper webs are printed in a stretched statediffering from that in which they are present in the finished product.Unacceptable distortions of the printed image may then result. A remedyfor this problem is provided by the digital printing technique. Indigital printing, the subsequent distortion of the printed image can becompensated as early as during printing, by deliberately applying theprinted image distorted in the opposite direction so that the subsequentdistortion due to the changing stretching of the paper web iscompensated. Printing is one of the most frequent types of preliminaryprocessing of paper webs to be finished. The combination of the digitalprinting technique with the technique of stretch-based longitudinalregister adjustment, which combination is described here, offers hereparticular potential for simplification and cost reduction of finishingprocesses, because preliminary processing of the paper webs can bedispensed with and more economical base paper can be used if allfinishing processes required for the finished product can be carried outthrough integration in one device.

[0027] Preferably, tension-adjusting units are formed by draw rollerpairs. The arrangement of further such tension-adjusting units isadvantageous particularly when the processing region is particularlylong or when a plurality of finishing steps have to be implemented insuccession in the processing region in order to adapt the web tension ineach partial region for the appropriate processing steps and to reliablymaintain the web tension in each partial region.

[0028] Depending on the quality of the paper web, in particular in thecase of paper webs having a particularly smooth surface, it is alsopossible to combine a plurality of draw roller pairs adjusted to thesame transport velocity to give a tension-adjusting unit. The purpose ofthis is to ensure a sufficient frictional connection between theindividual paper webs and to press out any existing air bubbles betweenthe paper webs, a problem frequently encountered particularly in thecase of multilayer paper webs.

[0029] With a device according to the invention, it is also possible,depending on requirements, for at least one finishing process to consistin the merging of at least two paper webs, even before the merging ofall paper webs.

[0030] The invention is now described purely by way of example belowwith reference to the drawing.

[0031]FIG. 1 shows a partial schematic side view of a first embodimentof a complete device;

[0032]FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal register adjusting unit for the directadjustment of the longitudinal register;

[0033]FIG. 3 shows a realistic side view of a second embodiment of acomplete device;

[0034]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the second embodiment of a completedevice;

[0035]FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of the first embodiment, with adirection of view perpendicular to that in FIG. 1, and

[0036]FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of a third embodiment,particularly clearly showing the elements of the control unit.

[0037] The figures are described in relation to one another below.

[0038]FIG. 1 shows a simplified, partially schematic diagram of anembodiment of a device according to the invention, which diagram is nottrue to scale in all parts. Four paper webs 1, 2, 3 and 4 are unwound,in the direction of view of the observer, in each case from feed units(not shown) and are deflected by means of deflection units (in thedrawing, a deflection unit for the third paper web is denoted by 12 c)through a right angle to the right in the drawing.

[0039] In the example shown, the deflection units are designed asso-called angle bars 59 a, 59 b, 59 c and 59 d. An angle bar is adeflection unit consisting of at least one cylindrical deflectionroller, the deflection roller being arranged with its axis of rotationparallel to the plane defined by the paper surface and at an angle of45° to the running direction of the paper fed in. After passing throughthe angle bar, the normal to the plane defined by the paper surface hasremained unchanged or has inverted (i.e. the paper web was turned “fromtop to bottom”) but the running direction of the paper web has beendeflected through a right angle (90°). A side view of such angle bars 59a, 59 b, 59 c, 59 d, 59 e and 59 f is shown in FIG. 3 and a plan view inFIG. 4.

[0040] The exact mode of operation of an angle bar is unimportant forthe invention. Advantageously, however, such angle bars permit aspatially compact and space-saving design of the entire device, as shownclearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. All paper webs 1 to 6 to be finished are fedfrom unwinding units 40 a to 40 f arranged parallel side by side andsubstantially of the same design (FIG. 4) into digital printing systems71 a to 71 f likewise arranged parallel side by side and through [sic]substantially of the same design (FIG. 4) and are printed there and thendeflected via angle bars 59 a to 59 f into the same running direction.

[0041] The angle bar is followed, for each paper web, by a firsttension-adjusting unit 19 as a first means for regulating the webtension. By way of example, the first tension-adjusting unit for paperweb 4 is denoted by 19 d and surrounded by a dashed line by way ofexample in FIG. 1.

[0042] This preferred embodiment of a tension-adjusting device 19 d willnow be described with reference to the diagram in FIG. 1. Thetension-adjusting device 19 d consists of a first deflection roller 81,a variator 82, a pressure roller 83, a tension-measuring roller 84 andan optional second deflection roller 85. The axes of all rollers arealigned parallel to one another. The variator 82 is arranged in theplane of symmetry which belongs to the first deflection roller 81 and tothe tension-measuring roller 84. The position of the variator 82 can bechanged in the plane of symmetry relative to the first deflection roller81 and the tension-measuring roller 84 (i.e. upwards or downwards in thediagram of FIG. 1) in the case of a substantially constant angle of wrapof the paper web around the variator 82. Together with the variator 82,the pressure roller 83 forms a pair of rollers; said pressure roller isarranged so as to lock under pressure against the variator 82. The,paper web is wrapped around the tension-measuring roller 84 so that theweb tension can be measured on the basis of the force exerted by thetensioned paper web on the tension-measuring roller 84 (in FIG. 1, aforce pulling the tension-measuring roller 84 upwards). Expediently, thebearings (not shown) of the axle of the tension-measuring roller 84 aremounted in a force transducer (not shown). The second deflection roller85 deflects the paper web at the exit of the tension-adjusting device 19d into a desired delivery direction. This function of the seconddeflection roller 85 is not important for the operation of thearrangement shown as a tension-adjusting unit.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 (and 3), all 4 (and 6, respectively) paperwebs run above or below one another when viewed in three dimensions,after passing through the angle bars 59 a to 59 d (or 59 f). However,they have not yet been merged but first pass through web-specificprocessing regions 10 a to 10 d still independently of one another.

[0044] The web-specific processing regions 10 a to 10 d initiallyinclude the first tension-adjusting units 19 a to 19 d already describedabove and of substantially the same design. These are followed bydifferent web-specific finishing regions 13 a to 13 d, a secondtension-adjusting unit 20 a to 20 d and means for congruent regulationof the longitudinal registers 14 a to 14 d. Thereafter, paper webs 1 to4 are merged in the merging unit 21 and fed to a common processingregion 22.

[0045] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the paper web 1 no longer passesthrough any web-specific finishing process. The paper web 2 is foldedalong its longitudinal direction in a folding plough 77. The paper web 3passes through a gluing unit 72. The paper web 4 initially passesthrough a punching device 73 having a punch waste remover 74, to which acollecting container for punch waste 75 is fastened and then through adispensing assembly 76 for applying objects, such as, for example, replycards, sample packs or the like, which are attached by means of the gluenozzle 78.

[0046] In FIG. 1, the common processing region 22 consists of a foldingplough 79 which folds the four merged paper webs together in thelongitudinal direction, the web sensor 24 and the draw unit 25, which isin the form of a pair of two identical draw rollers pressed against oneanother and driven so as to rotate against one another.

[0047] The common processing region 22 is followed by a collectingdirection [sic] 26 for the finished and merged paper webs. A size cutter27 is also shown in FIG. 1, as the first element of the collectingdevice 26. In the plan view of FIG. 4, possible further downstreamelements of a collecting device 26, in particular a first rotary sizecutter 28, a 90° deflection station 29, a second rotary size cutter 30and compensating stacking device 31 for the finished products cut tosize, are evident in an exemplary embodiment.

[0048] In FIG. 1, for each paper web 1 to 4, the secondtension-adjusting unit 20 a to 20 d substantially comprises a pair ofdifferent, cylindrical rollers pressed against one another so as to lockunder pressure, namely comprises the thicker, stationary second roller92 and the thinner pressure roller 93 pressed against the stationarysecond roller 92.

[0049] In the case of firm pressure locking, i.e. when the paper webcannot slide through the rollers pressed against one another, thevelocity of forward travel of the paper web and hence a preferablybraking effect defined relative to the draw unit 25 can be achieved viathe rotational velocity of the pressure roller 93, and a defined webtension identical for all paper webs can thus be adjusted to the paperweb section between and hence in the common processing region 22.Accordingly, a pulling effect and hence likewise a defined web tensioncan be established relative to the first tension-adjusting unit 19, inparticular the pressure roller pair formed from the contact pressureroller 83 and the variator 82.

[0050] The means shown in the example in FIG. 1 for the congruentregulation of the longitudinal register 14 comprise the longitudinalregister adjusting unit 15, longitudinal register sensor 16 and thelongitudinal register regulating device (not shown). The longitudinalregister adjusting unit 15 is advantageously arranged between the end ofthe web-specific finishing region 13 and immediately before the mergingunit 21 and permits a direct adjustment of the travel of the paper webin the web-specific finishing region 13.

[0051] In general, a direct adjustment of the travel of the paper webcan be effected, for example, by pressing a deflection roller, which isarranged with its axis perpendicular to the running direction of thepaper web, substantially perpendicular to the surface of the paper web,against the paper web so that the angle of wrap of the paper web aroundthe deflection roller changes. If the angle of wrap becomes larger, thetravel of the paper web also increases and, viewed in the runningdirection, its register is set back relative to the register of otherpaper webs.

[0052] The longitudinal register adjusting unit 15 shown in FIG. 1includes the movable first roller 91 and the stationary second roller92. By changing the position of the first roller 91 substantially in theazimuthal direction around the second roller 92, the angle of wrap ofthe paper web on the second roller 92 and hence the travel of the paperweb are changed.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 1, a longitudinal register adjusting unit canparticularly advantageously be combined with a tension-adjusting unit togive an arrangement consisting of only three rollers. FIG. 1 shows thecombination of the longitudinal register adjusting unit 15 with thesecond tension-adjusting unit 20 to give an arrangement consisting ofonly three rollers, namely the movable first roller 91, the stationarysecond roller 92 and the pressure roller 93.

[0054] As an alternative to the first embodiment of a longitudinalregister adjusting unit 15, consisting of the rollers 91 and 92, thelongitudinal register can, for example, also be adjusted directly, witha second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and consisting of three rollers. Astationary entry roller 97 deflects the direction of the paper web 1running into the arrangement into a specific first running directiondenoted by adjusting direction 102. A deflection roller 98 arrangeddisplaceably in the adjusting direction 102 deflects the runningdirection of the paper web out of the adjusting direction 102 into theexactly opposite direction 103. Finally, the likewise stationary exitroller 99 deflects the paper web 1 in a freely selectable, wide range101 of delivery angles. The infeed angle of the paper web 1 is alsofreely selectable in a wide range. What is important is that the angleof wrap of the paper web around the deflection roller 98 is exactly180°. This condition can be easily fulfilled by a suitable choice of therelative arrangement of the entry roller 97 and of the exit roller 99relative to the deflection roller 98. The position of the deflectionroller 98 can be moved along the adjusting direction 102. If thedeflection roller 98 is moved by a certain distance Δx towards the entryroller 97 or exit roller 99 (or away from it), the travel of the paperweb is shortened (lengthened) by exactly twice the distance 2Δx. Thismakes it particularly easy to calibrate the adjustment of thelongitudinal register accurately for each region.

[0055]FIG. 3 shows a side view of a complete device according to theinvention for finishing and merging six paper webs 1 to 6, which sideview is true to scale and is technically detailed in particular in theregion of the deflection units realized by angle bars 59 a to 59 f andin the region of the merging unit. The paper webs are dispensed, as inFIG. 1, in the direction of view of the observer, from feed units (notshown), printed in digital printing systems (not shown) and introducedinto the device shown via the angle bars 59 a to 59 f after deflectionto the right. After passing through the angle bars, the paper webs,viewed in three dimensions, run above or below one another but have notyet been merged in the context of the invention. On the right in FIG. 3,adjacent to each of the angle bars 59 a to 59 f of identical design, aweb-specific processing region comprising the following finishingstations begins for each paper web 1 to 6 with the firsttension-adjusting units 19 a to 19 f likewise of identical design: thepaper webs 1 and 2 run without a further finishing step directly intothe combination, already described further above with reference to FIG.1, of longitudinal register adjusting units 15 a and 15 b, and secondtension-adjusting units 20 a and 20 b, before they travel past thelongitudinal register sensors 16 a and 16 b into the merging unit 21.The paper web 3 first passes through a folding plough 77, the paper web4 passes through a gluing unit 72 and the paper web 5 passes through apunching device 73. The paper web 6 passes through a dispensing assembly76, is then coated with glue by the glue nozzle 78 and is glued to thepaper web 5 to become paper web 5′. The paper webs 3, 4 and 5′ then run,in each case still separately, into a combination of longitudinalregister adjusting unit 15 c to 15 e and second tension-adjusting unit20 c to 20 e. The paper webs 3 and 4 then also run past the longitudinalregister sensors 16 c and 16 d before they too, together with paper web5, reach the merging unit 21 and are merged.

[0056] The longitudinal register sensors 16 a to 16 d detect themarkings applied at regular intervals to each of the paper webs 1 to 4running past and in each case transmit a signal to the control unit (notshown) of the device. On the basis of the time sequence of the arrivalof the signals, the control unit checks whether the longitudinalregisters of the individual paper webs 1 to 4 are congruent with oneanother and detects a possible deviation for each paper web 1 to 4. If adeviation is detected for one of the paper webs 1 to 4, a control signalis transmitted to the corresponding longitudinal register adjusting unit15 a to 15 d for each paper web running with deviating register, via acoordinated longitudinal register regulating device (not shown), inorder to correct the deviation.

[0057] The web sensor 24 mounted immediately before the draw unit 25detects the markings which are applied to the paper web 5′ lying abovethe other paper webs in the region of the merging unit 21 and thedownstream common processing region, and transmits appropriate signalsto the control unit. With the aid of the signals generated by the websensor 24, the control unit recognizes the common running velocity ofthe merged paper web and can adjust the absolute running velocity bymeans of a regulating device controlling the draw unit. Moreover, apossible deviation of the longitudinal register of the paper web 5′ fromthe longitudinal registers of the paper webs 1 to 4 can be determinedfrom a comparison of the time sequence of the arrival of the signalsfrom the web sensor 24 with the sequence of the signals generated by thelongitudinal register sensors 16 a to 16 d and can be corrected bycontrolling the longitudinal register adjusting unit 15 e coordinatedwith the paper web 5′.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 3, the merging unit 21 advantageously has, atleast for each of the infed paper webs 1 to 5′, a deflection roller 94 ato 94 e and a guide roller 95 a to 95 e. The axis of rotation of alldeflection rollers 94 a to 94 e are arranged in a plane, with the resultthat, after running around the deflection rollers 94 a to 94 e, thepaper webs 1 to 5′ are adjacent to one another. Each of the deflectionrollers is supported by a force transducer with which the web tension ofthe relevant paper web is measured.

[0059] In FIG. 3, in the common processing region, the merged paper webspass through a final folding plough 79, the draw unit 25, a size cutterand further assemblies (not shown in FIG. 3 but shown in plan view inFIG. 4), in particular a first rotary cutter 28, a 90° deflectionstation 29 and a second size cutter 30. The individual finished productsof the finishing process which have been cut to size from the merged,endless paper web are finally stacked one on top of the other in acompensating stacking device 31.

[0060] An overall view of the arrangement and mounting of the functionalelements of the device shows a modular design of the device. It istherefore possible with relatively little effort to expand the devicefor the simultaneous finishing of further paper webs by adding theappropriate additionally required elements, or to adapt or convert thedevice for other applications by replacement of individual elements, inparticular of finishing assemblies.

[0061]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the same device which is shown in sideview in FIG. 3. This view once again clearly illustrates the modulardesign of the entire device.

[0062] The parallel arrangement of the six feed units for the six paperwebs 1 to 6 is clearly evident. Specifically, each of the feed units 10a to 10 f comprises an unwinding unit 40 a to 40 f, to which inparticular the unwinding devices 41 a to 41 f in FIG. 4 with storagedrums 42 a to 42 f, and the web guiding device 49 a to 49 f, belong.Each paper web 1 to 6 passes through a digital printing system 71 a to71 f as a first finishing step. The paper webs 1 to 6 then pass throughthe angle bars 59 a to 59 f clearly recognizable from above and, viewedin three dimensions, run above or below one another in the followingregions so that, in this view, those elements of the web-specificfinishing regions which are shown in FIG. 3 are not recognizable.However, the processing assemblies of the common processing region areonce again clearly evident from above. In the sequence of passage of themerged paper web, these include specifically: the final folding plough79, the draw unit 25, the size cutter 27, the first rotary cutter 28,the 90° deflection station 29, the second size cutter 30 and thecompensating stacking device 31 which stacks the cut finished productsone on top of the other.

[0063]FIG. 5 shows a detailed side view of an individual feed unit asprovided for each paper web in the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Inparticular, the unwinding device 41 having, inter alia, the storage drum42 and the web guiding device 49 is clearly detectable in the unwindingunit 40, and, in the further course of the paper web, the digitalprinting system 71 is clearly evident.

[0064] The diagram showing the arrangement of the elements of the feedunit serves merely to complete the description of a preferred embodimentof the device according to the invention. However, the details are notimportant for the present invention; no further description willtherefore be given here.

[0065] Usually, a stock of a paper web to be finished is present woundup into a roll. However, in another embodiment of a feed unit which isnot shown, it is also conceivable for a paper web to be present foldedinto longitudinal sections. In this case, the folds on the paper web areadvantageously made synchronous with a possible side register andarranged in such a way that they adversely affect the appearance of thepaper web as little as possible.

[0066] The invention was described above by way of example withreference to specific, preferred embodiments. Various changes andmodifications are obvious to a person skilled in the art on reading thedescription. It is intended that all these changes and modifications beregarded as being covered by the invention and thus belonging to thescope of the following Patent Claims.

1. Method for the merging and finishing of at least two paper webscontrolled in the longitudinal register, in which each paper web isprovided with markings applied at periodic intervals, and in which theindividual paper webs pass through web-specific processing regions whichcomprise a feed unit, an optional deflection unit and a web-specificfinishing region, are then merged in a merging unit and then also passthrough a common processing region which is controlled in thelongitudinal register and in which the paper webs are optionallyprocessed in a common finishing region which is controlled in thelongitudinal register and in which an optional web sensor measures theweb velocity and in which the paper webs are drawn by a draw unit andare collected in a collecting device, the web tension of the paper websbeing adjusted by means for regulating the web tension, which include afirst tension-adjusting unit arranged before the web-specific finishingregion and the draw unit, and the longitudinal register being adjustedby means for the congruent regulation of the longitudinal register,which include a longitudinal register sensor, characterized in that, forat least one paper web, the means for regulating the web tensionadditionally comprise at least one second tension-adjusting unit whichis arranged after the web-specific finishing region and before themerging unit and by means of which the web tension prevailing betweenthe first and second web-adjusting unit and the web tension prevailingbetween the second tension-adjusting unit and the draw unit are adjustedsubstantially independently of one another.
 2. Method according to claim1, characterized in that the web tension of the paper web in eachpartial region formed by a pair of tension-adjusting units and in thepartial region between the last tension-adjusting unit in the runningdirection and the draw unit formed partial region [sic] is adjusted to adefined, substantially constant value.
 3. Method according to claim 1 or2, characterized in that the web tension in the running direction of thepaper web decreases in a cascade-like manner from partial region topartial region.
 4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3,characterized in that, for each paper web, the web tension prevailingbetween the last tension-adjusting unit in the running direction of thepaper web and the draw unit is adjusted to a common value substantiallyequal for all paper webs.
 5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4,characterized in that the means for adjusting the web tension and thedraw unit are formed in such a way that the resulting web tension has asubstantially constant value over the width of the paper web.
 6. Methodaccording to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, for at leastone paper web, the longitudinal register is adjusted substantiallyindependently of the web tension.
 7. Method according to any of claims 1to 6, characterized in that at least one paper web is kept under tensionup to the last tension-adjusting unit in the running direction. 8.Method according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, for atleast one paper web, the means for adjusting the longitudinal registercomprise an optional longitudinal register adjusting unit and alongitudinal register regulating device.
 9. Method according to any ofclaims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in at least one web-specificprocessing region, the longitudinal register is adjusted via theadjustment of the web tension by means of the first tension-adjustingunit, utilizing the web stretch associated with the elasticity of theweb.
 10. Method according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized inthat, in at least one web-specific processing region, the longitudinalregister is adjusted by means of the longitudinal register adjustingunit by changing the travel of the paper web within the web-specificprocessing region.
 11. Device for the merging and finishing of at leasttwo paper webs controlled in the longitudinal register, consisting of atleast two web-specific processing regions which in turn comprise a feedunit, an optional deflection unit and a web-specific finishing region; amerging unit; a common processing region which is controlled in thelongitudinal register and in turn comprises an optional common finishingregion controlled in the longitudinal register, an optional web sensorand a draw unit; a collecting device and a control unit; each paper webbeing provided with markings applied at periodic intervals; whichapparatus furthermore comprises means for regulating the web tension,which include a first tension-adjusting unit arranged before theweb-specific finishing region and the draw unit; and means forregulating the longitudinal register, which comprise a longitudinalregister sensor; characterized in that, for at least one paper web, themeans for regulating the web tension additionally comprise a secondtension-adjusting unit which is arranged after the web-specificfinishing region and before the merging unit.
 12. Device according toclaim 11, characterized in that, for each paper web, the means forregulating the web tension additionally comprise at least one secondtension-adjusting unit which is arranged after the web-specificfinishing region and before the merging unit.
 13. Device according toclaim 11 or 12, characterized in that, for each paper web, the firsttension-adjusting unit is arranged immediately before the web-specificfinishing region.
 14. Device according to any of claims 11 to 13,characterized in that, for at least one web-specific processing region,the means for regulating the longitudinal register additionally comprisea further longitudinal register adjusting unit and a longitudinalregister regulating device.
 15. Device according to claim 14,characterized in that, for at least one web-specific processing region,the means for regulating the longitudinal register permit thelongitudinal register of the paper web to be adjusted independently ofthe web tension.
 16. Device according to any of claims 11 to 15,characterized in that at least two different processing stations belongto at least one web-specific finishing region.
 17. Device according toclaim 16, characterized in that at least one additionaltension-adjusting unit is arranged between at least two processingstations.
 18. Device according to any of claims 11 to 17, characterizedin that, within at least one web-specific processing region, at leastone processing station serves for merging a paper web with another paperweb.
 19. Device according to any of claims 11 to 18, characterized inthat the elements of the device each have a modular design so that theentire device can be reconfigured or expanded with little effort byremoving or adding individual elements.
 20. Device according to any ofclaims 11 to 19, characterized in that the draw unit is arrangedimmediately after the finishing region controlled in the longitudinalregister and before the collecting device.
 21. Device according to anyof claims 11 to 20, characterized in that the means for regulating theweb tension is formed in such a way that the web tension issubstantially constant over the web width.
 22. Device according to claim21, characterized in that at least one tension-adjusting unit and/or thedraw unit consists of a pair of draw rollers.
 23. Device according toclaim 22, characterized in that at least one pair of draw rollers is apair of rubber rollers.
 24. Device according to either of claims 22 and23, characterized in that the pairs of draw rollers are provided ontheir circumference with a profile for holding the correspondingfinishing products.
 25. Device according to any of claims 22 to 24,characterized in that the axes of the pairs of draw rollers are alignedwith one another and are arranged in a plane perpendicular to therunning direction of the paper web.
 26. Device according to any ofclaims 11 to 25, characterized in that the tension-adjusting units canbe controlled independently of one another by the control unit. 27.Device according to any of claims 11 to 26, characterized in that thefeed unit 10 is an unwinding unit 40 which consists at least of astorage drum 42 and a pair of take-off rollers and in which the paperweb is wound onto a storage drum
 42. 28. Device according to claim 27,characterized in that the pair of take-off rollers consists of thestorage drum 42 itself and a take-off roller which is arranged in such away that it is pressed against the uppermost layer of the paper webwound on the storage drum
 42. 29. Device according to claim 27,characterized in that the unwinding unit 40 consists at least of astorage drum 42, a take-off roller pressed against it and a pair of drawrollers.
 30. Device according to any of claims 11 to 26, characterizedin that the feed unit is an unfolding unit which consists at least of astorage container and a speed-controlled pair of drive rollers and inwhich the paper web is present in the folded state in the storagecontainer.
 31. Device according to any of claims 11 to 30, characterizedin that the collecting device consists of at least one collectingroller.
 32. Device according to any of claims 11 to 30, characterized inthat the collecting device consists of a size cutter, a stacking device,an optional counting device and an optional packing or banding device.33. Device according to any of claims 11 to 32, characterized in thatthe optional deflection unit 12 is arranged between the feed unit 11 andthe beginning of the web-specific finishing region
 13. 34. Deviceaccording to any of claims 11 to 32, characterized in that the optionaldeflection unit 12 is arranged between the end of the web-specificfinishing region 13 and the merging unit
 21. 35. Device according to anyof claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the optional deflection unit 12is an angle bar
 59. 36. Device according to any of claims 11 to 35,characterized in that, in at least one web-specific processing region13, the longitudinal register is adjusted via the adjustment of the webtension by means of the first tension-adjusting unit 19, utilizing theweb stretch associated with the elasticity of the web.
 37. Deviceaccording to any of claims 11 to 35, characterized in that, in at leastone web-specific processing region 13, the longitudinal register can beadjusted by means of the longitudinal register adjusting unit 15 bychanging the travel of the paper web within the web-specific processingregion
 13. 38. Device according to claim 37, characterized in that thelongitudinal register adjusting unit 15 is arranged between the end ofthe web-specific finishing region 13 and the merging unit
 21. 39. Deviceaccording to claim 37 or 38, characterized in that the longitudinalregister adjusting unit 15 is in the form of a pair of rollers,comprising a movable first roller 91 and a stationary second roller 92,in which the angle of wrap of the paper web on the second roller 92 canbe adjusted by changing the position of the first roller 91substantially in the azimuthal direction around the second roller 92.40. Device according to any of claims 11 to 39, characterized in that atleast one tension-adjusting unit 20 comprises a pressure roller 93 and asecond roller 92 as a mating roller, the pressure roller 93 being drivenat a regulatable rotational velocity and being arranged so as to lockunder pressure against the second roller
 92. 41. Device according to anyof claims 11 to 40, characterized in that at least one longitudinalregister adjusting unit 15 is combined with a tension-adjusting unit 20to give one unit.
 42. Device according to claims 40 and 41,characterized in that the pressure roller 93 of the tension-adjustingunit is arranged so as to lock under pressure against one of the tworollers 91, 92 of the longitudinal register adjusting unit 15,preferably against the stationary second roller
 92. 43. Device accordingto any of claims 11 to 42, characterized in that, in at least oneweb-specific processing region, a first tension-adjusting unit 19substantially comprises a first deflection roller 81, a variator 82, acontact pressure roller 83, a tension-measuring roller 84 and anoptional second deflection roller 85, the axes of all rollers beingaligned parallel to one another, the variator 82 lying in the plane ofsymmetry belonging to the first deflection roller 81 and to thetension-measuring roller 84, it being possible for the position of thevariator 82 in the plane of symmetry to be changed relative to the firstdeflection roller 81 and the tension-measuring roller 84 with constantangle of wrap, the contact pressure roller 83 being arranged so as tolock under pressure against the variator 82, the paper web being wrappedaround the tension-measuring roller 84 and the web tension beingmeasured via the force exerted by the tensioned paper web on thetension-measuring roller 84, and the optional second deflection roller85 deflecting the paper web into a desired delivery direction. 44.Device according to any of claims 11 to 43, characterized in that,depending on the number of paper webs to be merged, the merging unit 21comprises at least two deflection rollers 94 which are arranged in aplane so that the axes of the deflection rollers 94 are parallel andthat the running direction of the paper web after release by thedeflection rollers 94 is parallel to said plane.
 45. Device according toany of claims 11 to 44, characterized in that the web tension prevailingbetween the second tension-adjusting unit and the merging unit ismeasured by means of the tractive force of the paper web which acts onthe deflection rollers 94 of the merging unit
 21. 46. Device accordingto any of claims 11 to 45, characterized in that the longitudinalregister sensors 16 are arranged immediately before the merging unit 21.47. Device according to any of claims 11 to 46, characterized in that,in at least one web-specific processing region, a digital printingtechnique is used as a finishing process.